Sigourney Weaver Reflects on James Cameron’s Gruelling Filmmaking
Sigourney Weaver opens up about her experiences with James Cameron’s demanding approach on set, and why she was relieved not to join the cast of his challenging sci-fi epic, The Abyss.
James Cameron’s reputation for a rigorous approach to directing is well established, with one particular science fiction film standing out for its notoriously tough production. The Abyss, which took in $90 million at the box office, is often cited as a prime example of his uncompromising style.
In a recent interview, Sigourney Weaver shared her thoughts on working with Cameron, recalling her time on Aliens and expressing relief at not being involved in The Abyss. She described Cameron as witty and amusing away from the set, but noted the stark contrast in his demeanour during filming.
He was wildly funny, witty. I can understand why that guy couldn’t come out during ‘Aliens,’ because that was a tough shoot, especially for him. Let’s put it this way: I’m glad I wasn’t shooting ‘The Abyss’ with him.
Weaver recounted a dinner with Cameron after Aliens wrapped, observing how his intensity seemed to dissipate once the cameras stopped rolling.
On-Set Tensions and Cameron’s Directing Methods
Cameron is known for his relentless drive and high expectations. Weaver recalled an incident on the set of Aliens involving a young actress struggling with props. She approached Cameron to offer some advice, suggesting he consider the difficulty of the task and perhaps film something else while the actress adjusted.
I sort of trundled up to him and I said, ‘You know, when you yell at an actor, you yell at all of us, so understand that what she was doing actually was very hard. Maybe shoot something else while she gets used to doing this stuff the way you want it.’
To his credit, Cameron took her words on board. Weaver later described him as a decent person, though she believes he has softened over the years.
The Abyss: A Test of Endurance
The Abyss, released in 1989, starred Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn. The production was infamously demanding, with nearly half of the principal photography taking place underwater in a disused nuclear power station in South Carolina. Cast members endured over 70 hours of filming each week for six months. Harris once admitted to breaking down in his car after a particularly gruelling day.
Even Cameron himself was not immune to the hazards, at one point nearly running out of oxygen while submerged. Harris later revealed he almost drowned during filming.
We were guinea pigs, in a way, Jim wasn’t quite sure how this was all gonna go down… [in the drowning scene I was] screaming at her to come back and wake up, and I was slapping her across the face and I see that they’ve run out of film in the camera—there’s a light on the camera—and nobody had said anything. And Mary Elizabeth stood up and said, ‘We are not animals!’
Mastrantonio, whose character undergoes a dramatic sacrifice and revival, reportedly left the set after the scene became too much to bear. Despite the ordeal, Harris holds no grudge against Cameron or the project.
It was very difficult, but it was worth it, I met some great people. The Abyss is a really great movie up until the last 10 minutes, which was the big disappointment. I like Jim. He’s an incredibly talented, intelligent guy. In subsequence years after filming, it was always good to see him.
The Abyss: Legacy and Recognition
The Abyss has since achieved cult status, earning four Academy Award nominations and winning for Best Visual Effects at the 62nd ceremony. The film follows a civilian diving team recruited by the Navy to locate a missing nuclear submarine, only to encounter mysterious underwater life and face peril at the ocean’s depths. The principal cast includes Ed Harris as Bud Brigman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Lindsey Brigman, and Michael Biehn as Lt Hiram Coffey. The film runs for 140 minutes and was released on 9 August 1989.
The Abyss is currently available to stream on Disney+.